Regensburg Conference (Ratisbon) Began

Dan Graves, MSL

Church History Timeline

Rome and the Reformers "almost" got back together. On this day, April 27, 1541, Emperor Charles V
convened a conference at Ratisbon (Regensberg) to discuss reunification
of the western church. In his opening statement, Charles said that he
realized that religious differences had torn Europe apart and had
allowed the Turks to drive almost into Germany. He wanted to find a
peaceful solution, he said.

Pope Paul III also hoped for reconciliation. He sent as his
representative Cardinal Contarini, a man of pure life, whose views on
the doctrine of justification were close to Luther's. The Protestants
also wanted peace. They were outnumbered in Europe and knew that they
must suffer a good deal if some agreement could not be worked out. John
Calvin turned up to watch the proceedings, but he proved prophetic when
he declared that the differences between the two sides were too great to
be resolved by mere discussions.

Negotiating for the Catholic side were Eck, Pflug, and Gropper.
Speaking for the Protestants were Melanchthon, Bucer, and Pistorius. The
talks followed an outline known as the Regensburg Book, which
had been prepared in advance by Martin Bucer and John Gropper and read
and revised by Cardinal Contarini.

Pope Paul wanted the issue of his authority settled first. Contarini
recognized that this was best left until the dispatch of easier matters
had created a momentum of cooperation. And, in fact, the negotiators
quickly came to agreement on such doctrines as original sin, free will,
and even justification. Calvin rejoiced that the compromises kept "all
the substance of the true doctrine."

The negotiators skipped over matters of church authority when they
saw they were at loggerheads, and moved on to discuss the sacraments.
But on the Lord's Supper (Eucharist) agreement could not be reached. The
Catholics insisted that the bread literally became Christ's body and was
to be adored; the Reformers declared that Christ was merely present, and
that adoration of the symbols was idolatry. Attempts to contrive
formulas that would allow each side to hold its own view failed.

And so did the conference. Although the participants talked some more
about the other questions still on the table, the discussions were
half-hearted. Reconciliation had failed.

As a consequence, denominations took their own paths. Eventually,
Europe became the scene of conflict as war raged between Christians.